Environmental Tips

What NOT to put down the toilet, drain or garbage disposal

In order to prevent blockages, please refrain from dumping the following items down your toilet, sink, drainpipe or garbage disposal:

Fats, oils or grease from cooking, cars or lawnmowers

Coffee grinds

Egg shells

Produce stickers

Chunks of garbage

Disposable diapers

Feminine hygiene products

Paper towels

Flushable cat litter

Rags

Condoms

Bags/wrappings and cardboard

Motor oil, transmission fluids, anti-freeze or other toxic chemicals

Solvents, paints, turpentine, nail polish, polish remover

Flammable or explosive substances

Corrosive substances that are either acidic or caustic

Needles and sharps

Prescription and over-the-counter medications

Why is this a problem?

Any solid matter that you put down the toilet or drainpipe has the potential to cause blockages in both the public sewer or your own private drain. This can lead to:

Raw sewage overflowing in your home or your neighbor’s home;

An expensive and unpleasant cleanup;

Raw sewage overflowing into yards, and streets;

Potential contact with disease-causing organisms;

An increase in operation and maintenance costs for local sewer departments, which can cause higher sewer bills for customers; and

Increased pollution due to sewage spills caused by the blockages.

Private drainage systems (the part of the drainage network between your home and the public sewer) use narrow pipe-work and sometimes have bends in them where solid objects can lodge and cause blockages. It is the responsibility of the homeowner to maintain private drainage systems if there is no approved clean-out at the front property line.

Help keep our sewers clean with these environmental tips. Keep produce labels out of the drain!